RADICAL tax reform, a push for a republic by 2010, a new bill of rights and a treaty between black and white Australia were among a swag of ideas flung onto the national agenda at Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's historic 2020 Summit yesterday.

Nation building recommendations floated by the 1000 delegates who gathered at Parliament House in Canberra included:

■ A move towards a republic within two years, as flagged by Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus. Delegates in the governance group originally agreed to a 12-year target but, when Mr Debus challenged them to commit to a shorter time frame, he was cheered and clapped. "I want us to say that we will proceed to a republic by 2010," Mr Debus said. Summiteers in the stream voted three to one to endorse the ambitious target.

■ A treaty between black and white Australia.

■ A national bill or charter of rights, enshrining human rights protections and freedoms of speech and movement.

■ A broad-based review of the tax system to make it more progressive.

■ An energy audit for low-income households, offsetting their financial burdens by giving them low-flow showerheads and energy-saving light bulbs

■ Higher taxes on cigarettes and alcohol and a "fat tax" on junk food, to help fund more preventative health programs.